The ‘Chosen People’ of ancient Israel were defeated by Babylonian enemies and dreamed of rebuilding their empire. When Persia’s King Cyrus defeated Babylon, he furthered the Israelites’ realization of that dream and they acclaim him. Cyrus is thus contrived as an agent of Yahweh, “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, Cyrus.” “It is I who arm you, though you know me not.” The ‘Chosen People’ of Jesus’ era include Herodians who, with Rome’s help, also dream of rebuilding their empire. But is establishing the Community of God on earth, which marks the end of empire. Thus, the Herodians do not acclaim him. They intend to harm him. They will oppose him, abuse him, and have a hand in murdering him. In today’s Gospel, they ask Jesus a question to further their intended harm, “Is it lawful to pay tax to Caesar or not?” The Herodians think they’ve trapped Jesus in empire and its values. Whether Jesus says “Yes” or “No,” he will be judged in reference to an empire, Rome’s or Israel’s. But Jesus is not trapped in empire. He is establishing the Community of God on earth in empire’s place. He rejects the “Yes,” or “No” trap. Instead, he asks for “the coin that pays the tax.” The Israelite Herodians hand over the Roman coin to which Jesus asks, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” The Herodians thus prove they are trapped in empire by possessing that coin with that image. They prove they are possessed, bearing in their behavior the image of a false god, Caesar Tiberius.
‘Chosen People’ of our era include white evangelicals. They dream of rebuilding their U.S. Empire. U.S. King Donald has defeated their multicultural liberal enemies and furthered the dream of rebuilding their white supremacist empire. Donald is thus contrived as an agent of Yahweh, a modern-day Cyrus. For white evangelicals, ‘It is the Lord who arms you Donald, though you know me not.’ For Donald’s help to the ‘Chosen People’ in rebuilding their U.S. Empire he is acclaimed a great leader. White evangelicals do not however acclaim Jesus as a great leader. Like the Herodians, white evangelicals know Jesus does not enable them to rebuild their U.S. Empire. Also like the Herodians, white evangelicals intend to do Jesus and the Community of God harm. Their harm includes misinterpreting the Herodian question according to the “Yes” or “No” trap to favor empire. The harm also includes asking additional Herodian questions to favor empire and to trap potential peacemakers in its values. Is it lawful to kill black men or not, unless you want white suburban housewives raped in their neighborhoods and their businesses set afire? (As if white supremacists do not set that relationship model.) Is it lawful to separate families and cage immigrant children or not, unless you want foreign criminals roaming the streets? (As if all people do not bear the image of God.) Is it lawful to suppress the vote and enable interference in an election or not, unless you want socialists and communists taking over the country? (As if empire taking over is not their ultimate value.) Peacemakers can speak truth about crime, policing, immigration, elections, and more. Like Jesus, current peacemakers must also know that something evil / adversarial, is intended by modern day Herodians. White evangelicals are telling us, like their ancestors were telling Jesus – we will oppose you, we will abuse you, we will murder you, and we will rebuild our empire on your graves. Like the Herodians, white evangelicals are themselves possessed, bearing in their behavior the image of a false god, Caesar Trump. We can repeat the Gospel exchange, ‘Why are you testing us, you hypocrites?’ ‘The image you bear is Caesar’s.’ Why have you submitted to this ruler when you claim to belong to Christ?
“Cowardice asks the question – is it safe? Expediency asks the question – is it politic? Vanity asks the question – is it popular? But conscience asks the question – is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)
Prayer: Spirit, help me give witness to Courage.
Question: To whom do I belong?
October 18, 2020 Gospel Matthew 22:15-21 Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time